ARC Reflections Facilitator Guide for Session One

The Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Justice Resource Institute developed ARC Reflections, a training curriculum to developing foster parents and caregivers’ understanding of traumatic stress, increasing their own emotional regulation and providing tools to support their parenting skills. This guide to Session One helps facilitators introduce participants to the training structure, supports cohesion among group members and introduces important information about the role of trauma in children and teens’ lives.

Every session includes a check-in to increase awareness and engagement of participants; a facilitator checklist of session materials; practice activities and take-home log for participants; a representative case study to follow throughout the sessions; and reflective questions for participant growth and understanding.

In This Report, You’ll Learn

Why trauma shapes the lens through which kids and teens understand themselves and the world.

3

Why behaviors are often survival strategies.

Key Takeaway

Experiencing Trauma for Foster Kids is More Common Than You Think

For children and youth in foster care, trauma is the norm, not the exception. For children and youth of color— or who identify as LGBTQ — trauma is even more common and complex. That is why it is important for caregivers to acquire the skills to handle trauma and work toward the best outcomes possible for vulnerable kids and teens.

Findings & Stats

Danger Signals

When faced with danger, our brains make split second judgments based on what we hear, see, taste, smell and feel and what we have learned over time about the signals of danger

Survival First

A child’s or teen’s response to perceived danger can happen frequently and lead to survival behaviors instead of thoughtful processing of information.

Trauma Statistics

One in five girls reportedly experiences sexual abuse as a child. One in five adults reports growing up in a home with domestic violence.

Statements & Quotations

When you interact with children and teens who have experienced repeated harm, it is important to remind yourself that at any given moment the child or teen may be interacting not just with you, but with every person who has ever hurt, rejected or abandoned him or her in the past.

Many people believe that the word “trauma” refers only to things that we see in the media: violent assaults, car accidents, acts of terror, natural disasters and acts of abuse. We are learning more and more that there are many stressful childhood experiences that may challenge children and teens.